Park Hong-geun: "Yoon Government Decision-Making is 'All-Pass'... Free Pass if It's Han Dong-hoon"

"Only Withdrawal of Place Name Can Stabilize a Democratic Nation"
People Power Party Injunction, "An Unconstitutional Attempt Denying Separation of Powers and the Legislative Branch's Value"

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Policy Coordination Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Han Dong-hoon, nominee for Minister of Justice, on the 28th, saying, "The decision-making of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is 'all-encompassing,'" and "If it's Han Dong-hoon, it will be a free pass."

At the policy coordination meeting that day, Floor Leader Park stated, "Candidate Han trampled on the agreement made between the Speaker of the National Assembly and the ruling and opposition parties with just one phone call, and completely denied the matter agreed upon by the Speaker and all parties."

Candidate Han previously stated at the press conference for his nomination on the 13th, "If this law (the 'Complete Prosecution Reform' law) passes, the people will suffer greatly," and "The attempt to pass this law must be stopped at all costs."

Earlier, on the 23rd, Candidate Han expressed concerns about the legislative compromise on the Complete Prosecution Reform, agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties under the mediation of Speaker Park Byeong-seok, saying in a statement, "Even under the system currently in effect since the 2020 revision, many side effects and loopholes have been revealed in protecting ordinary citizens and responding to corruption. Without thorough analysis and social consensus, rushing additional legislation will seriously worsen these problems."

Floor Leader Park said, "Only the withdrawal of Candidate Han's nomination can stabilize the core of a democratic nation and alleviate public concerns," and pointed out, "The candidate, who has not even gone through the confirmation hearing, disparaged the legislature by calling it a midnight escape."

He added, "Han's words and actions are surprising, but his shamelessness in trying to appoint himself as a 'small president' is even more astonishing," and criticized, "A candidate who places the people and the National Assembly underfoot, applying the law infinitely leniently to himself and harshly to others, raises doubts about whether he can properly fulfill the role of head of justice administration."

Floor Leader Park also criticized other ministerial nominees, saying, "They are insulting the confirmation hearings with the worst tricks," and "Even after witnessing the breakdown of Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo's confirmation hearing, they collectively refuse to submit documents."

He said, "Among the 19 candidates, it is difficult to find one without flaws," and criticized, "I cannot help but ask whether the meritocracy that President-elect Yoon mentioned means quietly entering the cabinet through close personal ties after consistently ignoring merit."

Regarding the People Power Party's filing of a provisional injunction to suspend the enforcement of the Complete Prosecution Reform law at the Constitutional Court, Floor Leader Park pointed out, "The Constitutional Court injunction is an anti-constitutional attempt that denies the separation of powers and the value of the legislature."

He continued, "They illegally obstructed parliamentary proceedings by overturning an agreement made before the people and occupying the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," and said, "I cannot help but ask whether this systematic and coordinated collective resistance is truly for the people's lives."